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Traditional Pakistani marriage celebrations
lasts for four days
1. First Day of the Celebration
On
the first day, the bride and groom's families
dress in yellow, and celebrate the upcoming
nuptials separately. The couple will not see
each other from this day until the ceremony.
2. Second Day of the Celebration
The
second day is reserved for a big celebration
called Mehndi that includes dancing and singing
matrimonial songs. On this day, the groom's
family delivers the wedding dress to the bride's
family, and then her family takes the groom's
wedding attire to his family. The bride's
family string hundreds of colored lights over
and around their home, creating a vibrant announcement
of their daughter's forthcoming marriage.
Here, the bride-to-be receives a traditional
henna staining on her hands and feet. This traditional
Muslim art form invokes intricate designs to
create attractive symbolic patterns. The bride-to-be
is waited on by her family while the henna stain
dries overnight.
3. Third Day is the Marriage Ceremony
The
wedding rites and ceremony in Pakistan take
place on the third day. The Pakistani bride
and groom who continue their traditions usually
wear garments of red. The bride's gown is
very elaborate, as are her veil and jewellery.
Men wear a distinctive traditional turban. After
wedding vows are exchanged, the Holy Quran is
held over the new bride's head as she joins
her husband's family. The official paperwork
is signed in the presence of a Qazi and the
guests.
4. Fourth and Final Day of Wedding Program in
Pakistan
On
the fourth day, the couple hosts their first
dinner (Valima) as husband and wife. The groom's
family invites all of the guests to their home
for a feast.
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